Hino Area Guide

Hino Station is located between Toyoda Station and Tachikawa Station on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid). The area right around Hino Station has a very local, small-town feel. This helps keep rent prices low while still providing the essentials, all while being just one station away from a major hub (Tachikawa) and 30 minutes away from Shinjuku (on the Special Rapid Service).

Details

Highlights
-- Small, quiet station on the western end of the Chuo line.
-- Rent tends to be rather cheap compared to other stations in west Tokyo.
-- Plenty of space and nature to be found in the area, only ~13 minutes away from Mount Takao by train.
Trainline(s)
Hino Station is located on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid).
Access
From Hino Station on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) Special Rapid Service:
-- 29-min direct to Shinjuku Station
-- 42-min direct to Tokyo Station
-- 39-min to Shibuya Station (1 transfer)

From Hino Station on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) Rapid Service:
-- 42-min direct to Shinjuku Station
-- 55-min direct to Tokyo Station
-- 53-min to Shibuya Station (1 transfer)

Contents

Just out of the East Exit of Hino Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Hino at a glance


Hino Station is located between Toyoda Station and Tachikawa Station on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid). Tachikawa Station has a much more urban-vibe with its multiple department stores and high volume of foot traffic. Toyoda Station is quieter, but still has a decent amount of traffic due to the ease-of-living for families in the area. So where does that leave Hino?

The area right around Hino Station has a very local, small-town feel. And I think that’s a fair assessment of this neighborhood in general. This helps keep rent prices low while still providing the essentials, all while being just one station away from a major hub (Tachikawa) and 30 minutes away from Shinjuku (on the Special Rapid Service).

Transportation

Looking toward the West Exit of Hino Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

You can access the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) from Hino Station. If you plan out your schedule, you can catch a Special Rapid Service train that’ll get to Shinjuku in 30 minutes. A regular Rapid Service train will take about 46 minutes to get to Shinjuku.

Rent

Thanks to its small-town feel, rent in the area tends to be cheap even for west Tokyo standards.

Studio/1K/1DK ¥56,200/month (About $530 assuming an exchange rate of ¥106/US dollar)

1LDK/2K/2DK ¥90,700 (About $850)

2LDK/3K/3DK ¥93,700 (About $880)

Of course, these are averages so it is possible to find cheaper listings (most likely those farther away from the station, or in older buildings, etc.) if affordability is your main concern. For a better idea of currently available properties in the area, check out listings here: Hino Apartments.

For example, rent for 1R apartments in the Hino area starts at around ¥40,000 per month.

Hino has a calm suburban vibe. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Apartments for rent in the Hino area

Ease of living

Photo: Scott Kouchi

On one hand, the suburban environment of Hino will help keep rent low, but you might find that an area like Tachikawa has a better balance of conveniences/shopping. There isn’t any large department store or shopping mall near the station, which makes the station quite calm.

This Inageya supermarket is five minutes north of Hino Station. There is a Welpark drug store and Co-op grocery store nearby as well, making it easy to find pretty much most daily necessities close by the station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

You’ll find grocery stores and supermarkets around the area, but there’s a noticeable lack of family restaurants (Gusto, Johnathan’s, Saizeriya).

Hino City Library. On the second floor you’ll find information about the Shinsengumi (special police force established in the late Tokugawa period) as the history of the Shinsengumi is intwined with this area. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Hino City is home to the Tama Zoological Park and Keio Rail Land theme park. You’ll be about a 10-min drive (or 18-min bus ride) away from these popular weekend destinations. They’re very popular with children and families!

Who is this area ideal for?

Similar to neighboring Toyoda Station, this area has a neighborhood feel that suits family life. While it’s not difficult for singles to live here, areas like Tachikawa provide more entertainment/nightlife options. That being said, the suburban environment keeps the rent in the area a little lower compared to surrounding neighborhoods, so if rent is your main concern, Hino could be a place to take a closer look at.

Local liquor store that is right in the middle of a residential part of Hino City. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Lead: Scott Kouchi

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